Clay Rapada was recalled Tuesday from Toledo to become the third left-hander in the bullpen, and first baseman Jeff Larish was optioned to Toledo to make room on the 25-man roster.

Leyland said Larish, a left-handed batter, was not going to get many at-bats because of the Tigers were going to be facing a steady diet of southpaw starters in upcoming series. Carlos Guillen, the regular left fielder, was being shifted to designated hitter because of a sore right Achilles' tendon.

"With Carlos (at DH), Larish was not getting in," Leyland said. "We'll get Larish 55 at-bats in two weeks with Toledo and hopefully get him back here."

Larish was batting .176 with one home run in 17 at-bats, and had one walk with four strikeouts. Rapada had a 6.00 ERA with one save and seven strikeouts in six innings with the Mud Hens, but made a good impression on Leyland during spring training.

"He's an extra bullet to protect (Bobby) Seay and (Nate) Robertson," Leyland said, referring to his top southpaw relievers. "Sometimes you get creative and see what makes sense."

Larish started once at first base and three times at DH.

Leyland said he expects to platoon left-handed hitting Josh Anderson and right-handed hitting Ryan Raburn in left field until Guillen is ready to play the outfield on a regular basis.

"I'm not going to push it with Carlos," said Leyland.

Raburn and Rapada were his final two spring training cuts, and Leyland made it clear both deserved to make the team then. Three weeks later, both are with the Tigers.

"They told me then that I was the 13th guy and that it was just a tough break," Rapada, 27, said. "I had nothing but good things to take from that time.

"It's always tough to be the low guy on the totem pole, but I just kept working and felt it was only a matter of time."

Rapada was 3-0 with a 4.22 ERA in 25 games with Detroit in 2008, but had 14 walks in 21 1/3 innings. He had great control in spring training, but walked four (one intentional) in six innings with Toledo. Rapada also pitched in 2007 for the Tigers and Chicago Cubs, who traded him that season for outfielder Craig Monroe.

Seay gets night off
Leyland said that he would not pitch Seay on Tuesday night because he had thrown in three straight games. Seay has yet to allow one run in 7 1/3 innings, and has given up three hits and no walks.

Treanor surgery Thursday
Tigers catcher Matt Treanor said his hip surgery is scheduled for Thursday in New York with Dr. Bryan Kelly. Treanor went hitless in 13 at-bats and was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a right hip strain.

"They will evaluate the severity of the injury in surgery," Treanor said, "and that will determine how long I'm out. But they are telling me it's probably six to 12 weeks. I tried to gut it out, but it didn't work."

Dane Sardinha was recalled from Toledo to replace Treanor as the backup catcher behind Gerald Laird.

Verlander not the ace
After Justin Verlander shut out the Yankees on Monday night for seven innings, Leyland reiterated Tuesday that he does not have to be the staff ace and carry the burden of expectations that goes with that title.

"He's not supposed to be the guy," Leyland said. "He just has to be Justin Verlander. He disagrees with me, though."

Verlander was the 2006 American League Rookie of the Year and a 2007 All-Star before struggling last season to an 11-17 record. He is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA this year.